byChas Sisk
/ WPLN, April 13 -The state's top lawyer is warning of potentially dire consequences to
Tennessee and local school districts if lawmakers move forward with a
plan to require transgender students to use the bathroom of their birth
sex. .... Tennessee faces a national backlash....

The attorney general notes that the U.S. Department of Education has
taken the position that ignoring gender identity violates Title IX,
which bars sex discrimination in public education. That means districts
could be stripped of federal funding if they try to enforce the law.

"In
sum, if a transgender student is required by a school district in
Tennessee to use a restroom or locker room that is consistent with his
or her anatomical gender rather than his or her gender expression or
gender identity, and if that student files a complaint, DOE, applying
its current interpretation of Title IX, will almost certainly require
the school district to permit the student access to the facility
consistent with his or her gender expression," the attorney general
writes. (link)Fiscal concerns prompt delay of bathroom bill

by Joel Ebert, The Tennessean, April 13, 2016 -Citing a revised fiscal note — which said the state could
see a potential loss of $300,000 in tax revenue with the legislation's
passage — Sen. Bo Watson,
R-Hixson, who serves as vice chairman of the finance committee, asked
Bell to delay action on the measure until after the panel addresses
various budget bills, which were also scheduled to be taken up on
Tuesday. .... The bill's fiscal note also
pointed out that the state faces the prospect of losing federal Title
IX funding, which is estimated in next year's budget to be as much
as $1.2 billion for K-12 and higher education. .... , a White House spokesman criticized Tennessee's proposed law and similar ones in other states during a news briefing. (link)

Estimates show a potential loss
of $58 million in direct visitor spending, costing our city and state
over $10 million in revenue

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 7, 2016) – Mayor Megan Barry
has released the following statement regarding HB2414/SB2387,
legislation intended to discriminate against transgender students which
passed the House Education Administration & Planning Committee on
Wednesday after having initially been sent to a summer study committee,
and HB1840/SB1556, legislation that allows denial of counseling and
therapy services to LGBT citizens and casts additional discrimination on
those seeking help:

“This legislation doesn’t reflect Nashville’s values and doesn’t do
anything to improve the quality of life for citizens of our city or
state. If some lawmakers don’t see the value in recognizing people’s
dignity and privacy, I hope they can at least see the negative economic
impact and potential loss of revenue to Nashville and the State of
Tennessee. We’ve seen the negative effects that similar laws in North
Carolina have had on their economy, and we’ve already received
indications that conventions might pull out of Nashville or eliminate
our city from consideration should HB2414/SB2387 become law – resulting
in a potential loss of over $10 million in state and local tax revenue
and nearly $58 million in direct visitor spending removed from our
economy.

“That is the loss of economic activity in just one sector of our
city’s economy. Our future ability to attract film and television
production will also be impacted, and we could expect to see other
industry sectors impacted, as well. That’s quite a price to pay for
legislation that would seem to hurt people – including some of our
youngest and our most vulnerable – without actually benefitting anyone
in the process. Instead of creating complex and confusing regulations
for restrooms, or becoming the only state in the nation to allow
discrimination by counseling professionals, the state should work with
local governments to continue our economic growth, address traffic
problems, and give our schools the resources and support they need to be
successful.”

The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. has heard from convention
planners who have booked in Nashville and been told that they will not
come if HB2414/SB2387 becomes law. Additionally, there are indications
that nine other groups are likely to abandon plans to meet in Nashville
should the bill pass.

3 definite groups that will cancel meetings in Nashville:

$8,985,308 in direct spending

$703,540 in state taxes

$916,095 in local taxes

9 tentative groups that likely will not book in Tennessee:

$48,791,853 in direct spending

$3,746,217 in state taxes

$4,874,125 in local taxes

In total, risking 12 groups:

$57,777,161 in direct spending

$4,449,757 in state taxes

$5,790,220 in local taxes

The actual impact is anticipated to be far greater should this bill
become law and bring greater national attention to anti-LGBT efforts
within the state of Tennessee.

Tennessee tourism, TV leaders: Bathroom bill could cost jobs, revenue.......Nashville's top tourism executive said the bill, slated
for consideration Wednesday by a legislative committee, could lead to
lost conventions and the revenue they generate. .... The bill damages the image of Tennessee as a welcoming place,
contended Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. President and CEO
Butch Spyridon. He said two groups have said Nashville won’t be
considered as an option for future conventions if the law passes. A CVC
spokeswoman said those unspecified conventions would bring more than
10,800 combined hotel room nights. .... “Letting this be the reason we lose the ‘Nashville’ show would be a huge blow,”...

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